Chapter 21: All Children of the Jianghu~

【The "Manifestation Before Others" task has been completed, the reward has been credited in real-time】

【Morning Run Challenge (7 days), reward: height increase of 2CM】

【Compared to wealth and height, perhaps you already have the answer】

The system's prompt tone had already sounded, accompanied by the intense sound like clapping in the room; Li Yan only glanced at it roughly at this time, then continued to immerse himself in the pleasure of driving.

In Room 2508 of the Shangri-La Hotel, the first ray of morning sunlight spilled in through the gap in the curtains.

The room returned to the quiet after last night's clamor, and the air still lingered with the faint scent of perfume and alcohol.

Li Yan woke up first, his gaze calm, as if last night's events hadn't left too many ripples in his heart.

He sat up, his arm resting naturally on the head of the bed, and looked down at Shen Qingyue who was still fast asleep.

She was lying on her side, her hair slightly messy, but she still appeared fresh and moving.

Especially beneath the quilt that had slipped off her shoulder was that beautiful scenery with moving curves.

Li Yan didn't wake her, just got up and walked toward the bathroom, turned on the faucet, and washed his face.

When Shen Qingyue woke up, she happened to see Li Yan walking out of the bathroom.

He was wearing the bathrobe provided by the hotel, his face carrying a consistent look of composure.

Her gaze met his, and the memories of last night surged into her heart like a tide.

Her face flushed slightly, and she subconsciously pulled the quilt on her body.

"Morning." Li Yan's voice was low and indifferent, as if everything last night was just the most normal thing.

Shen Qingyue nodded, her voice carrying a hint of hesitation: "Morning."

She wanted to say something, but felt she didn't know where to start.

Thinking in her heart that her initiative last night might have been a bit too bold, but more of it was an indescribable expectation.

She wanted to know Li Yan's attitude, but was afraid the answer wasn't what she thought.

Li Yan sat casually on the sofa, picked up his phone to check the time, then stood up and said faintly: "I'll call a car to send you back. We played a bit late last night, I reckon you're tired too."

Shen Qingyue was stunned for a moment, somewhat at a loss.

She had never seen a boy who could appear so indifferent after such an intimate relationship, as if everything last night was just an ordinary social game.

But in the end, she still nodded, her voice soft: "Alright."

The two tidied up simply; Li Yan appeared relaxed and natural, while Shen Qingyue always carried a hint of complex mood.

Her movements appeared somewhat slow, her mind constantly recalling every detail of last night, and a surge of indescribable emotions rose in her heart.

He didn't have much attachment or emotion about last night's events; more of it was a natural attitude—for him, last night was just a relaxation after the college entrance exam, unrelated to feelings, and didn't involve promises.

The car stopped at the hotel entrance; Li Yan politely opened the car door for Shen Qingyue, his tone calm: "Be careful on the road, let's meet again when you have time."

He spoke naturally, but there wasn't any excessive emotion in his tone.

Shen Qingyue got into the car, nodded, her lips moved, but in the end, she didn't say anything.

The car started slowly; she looked at Li Yan standing at the hotel entrance through the car window; his figure appeared exceptionally tall and straight in the morning light, but that kind of sense of distance made her heart feel empty.

Countless thoughts surged in Shen Qingyue's heart.

She knew what her initiative last night meant, and also understood that Li Yan perhaps didn't care as much as he appeared on the surface.

But precisely because of his composure and confidence, she developed a deeper interest in him.

Shen Qingyue thought silently that this boy seemed even harder to control than she had imagined.

Li Yan stood at the hotel entrance, watched the car leave, looked up at the sky, and stretched.

Last night's experience was just a small episode in his life, and now, what he was more concerned about was the upcoming morning run task.

"Running for 2 centimeters, this deal is worth it."

He thought in his heart, clicked on the phone map, and searched for a suitable place for a morning run near his home.

As for Shen Qingyue? For him, it was just a normal social experience, and he wouldn't invest too much energy into this relationship.

"Let's talk when there's time."

Li Yan smiled, turned, and walked toward the street, preparing to take a car home.

His heart had already begun to plan new goals, relaxed and free, as if everything last night had never happened.

When Li Yan took a car home, the time was already approaching ten o'clock in the morning.

Pushing open the door, the house was quiet, the living room was clean and tidy, and the cushions on the sofa were still placed neatly, obviously his parents had already gone to work.

Li Yan threw his keys on the table in the entryway, changed into slippers, and stood at the door loosely for a moment.

He walked toward the kitchen, opened the pot lid, and glanced at it, finding it empty—his parents obviously hadn't left him breakfast.

He shook his head helplessly and muttered to himself: "Looks like I have to solve it myself today."

Then he opened the refrigerator, finding only some leftover vegetables and fruits, and there weren't even many frozen dumplings left in the freezer.

"That's right, said I wouldn't be back for dinner yesterday, Mom probably couldn't be bothered to make it for me."

He muttered with a smile, closed the refrigerator, touched his stomach, and thought about whether to just go out and buy something.

Putting down this thought, he walked straight into the bathroom, turned on the faucet to wash his face, and brushed his teeth to wake up.

The self in the mirror looked somewhat tired, but the corners of his mouth carried a faint smile; everything last night seemed to make him feel good.

"Relaxation is relaxation, but the task still needs to be done."

Li Yan thought in his heart.

The system's 【Morning Run Challenge】 task surfaced in his mind; he didn't treat it as a burden, but rather felt it was a good opportunity.

Growing two centimeters taller was also icing on the cake for future university life.

175 becoming 177, 180 wouldn't be too far away either; Li Yan was obviously more concerned about this task than the task with monetary rewards.

After washing up, he poured a glass of cold boiled water and sat down casually in the living room.

Sunlight spilled in through the curtains on the balcony, and the room was filled with warm light.

Li Yan leaned on the sofa, his legs crossed casually, his eyes looking out the window, a smile on the corners of his mouth.

"Mom and Dad are quite reassured about me, not asking anything after coming back so late."

Li Yan felt some emotion in his heart, but more of it was the enjoyment of this free life.

He picked up his phone, opened the map to search for nearby morning run routes, and planned the first day's task for tomorrow.

The community park shown on the map wasn't big, but it was just right for running.

Li Yan nodded, having already made a plan in his heart.

He glanced at the time, intending to rest for a while before considering going out to forage.

Several unread WeChat messages popped up on his phone, some from Wang Zhen, and some from Shen Qingyue.

"Brother Yan, let's continue later," this was Wang Zhen's message, obviously still having a lingering interest in last night's drinking session.

And Shen Qingyue's message was much shorter, only two words: "Thank you."

Li Yan's mouth curled, and he replied simply: "Let's meet when there's time."

He threw his phone aside, pillowing his hands behind his head, and closed his eyes comfortably.

The bird calls outside the window accompanied the sunlight spilling in, making the entire morning appear quiet and comfortable.

"Running, eating, resting, let everything come slowly." Li Yan recited in his heart, appearing incomparably relaxed. ===== CHAPTER 22 =====